The Local Germany

The surprising places around the world where German is still spoken

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 16:02:58 +0200

Many people wouldn’t expect to hear German spoken outside of central Europe. Yet today it is preserved, in its own dialect, in communities stretching from Texas to Namibia.

History weighs heavy as Germany mulls arms exports

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 12:50:29 +0100

Export power Germany has long had a troubled relationship with selling arms abroad, a legacy of its dark history that is now spelling deep discord with its European allies.

German gunmaker fined €3.7m over illegal arms exports to Mexico

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:27:29 +0100

A German court Thursday fined gunmaker Heckler & Koch €3.7 million and gave suspended jail terms to two of its ex-employees for illegally exporting thousands of rifles to violence-torn Mexican states.

World Cup: former stars lay into ‘helpless’ Germany after shock defeat

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 18:48:57 +0200

Joachim Löw is facing the biggest crisis of his 12-year reign as Germany coach after the holders slipped to a shock defeat against Mexico in their World Cup opener in Russia.

Mexico stun Germany in die Mannschaft's first World Cup game

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 10:32:03 +0200

Mexico stunned World Cup holders Germany on Sunday, inflicting a 1-0 defeat that throws the Germans' title defence into disarray as Neymar's Brazil stuttered to a draw against Switzerland.

German gun firm execs on trial over 'illegal' rifle shipments to Mexico

Tue, 15 May 2018 15:41:58 +0200

A German court Tuesday put on trial six former employees of gun maker Heckler & Koch over thousands of assault rifles that were allegedly exported illegally to violence-torn Mexican states.

Merkel hails free trade with Mexico ahead of tricky Washington visit

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 12:33:53 +0200

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who both face trade tensions with US President Donald Trump, on Sunday praised an EU-Mexico deal to boost economic ties.

Mexico to Merkel: we want 'significant increase' in trade

Sat, 10 Jun 2017 11:16:01 +0200

President Enrique Pena Nieto told German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday he wants a significant increase in trade with the European Union, vowing to complete a new trade deal by year's end.

Mexico: so far from Trump, so close to Germany?

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 11:50:24 +0200

Mexico and Germany, which share the dubious honour of being targeted in some of Donald Trump's most furious tweets, will seek to strengthen trade on Friday when Chancellor Angela Merkel visits.

Two German firms interested in building Trump’s border wall

Thu, 30 Mar 2017 12:57:36 +0200

The Mexico border wall was one of the most controversial elements of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, but that hasn't stopped two German companies from registering an interest in building it.

6 things you never knew linked Mexico and Germany

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 19:11:38 +0200

From 2016 to 2017, the two countries officially celebrated the year of German-Mexican culture. But what the heck do these two far-flung countries have in common? Apparently quite a bit...

Former Miss Germany tries luck in Mexico

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 14:01:00 +0200

Natalie Ackermann was crowned Miss Germany seven years ago. Today she is a host on Mexican television and will shoot a movie with actor Antonio Banderas. A soap star with Hollywood ambitions, she is The Local's German of the Week.

German's solar ovens sunbake Mexican tortillas

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:03:00 +0100

Under a blazing sun in Mexico's central mountain range, a German entrepreneur's clutch of large dish-shaped solar panels suck up the light and beam the heat into a kitchen, cooking tortillas.

Mayan 'apocalypse' codex goes on display

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:33:00 +0100

The famous Dresdner Codex, one of the original Mayan books that set the end of the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012, went on display in Dresden on Friday as part of an exhibition on the apocalyptic prophecy.

No Mayan apocalypse expected next year

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:01:00 +0100

The world won’t actually end next year despite widespread fears that Mayans long-ago predicted humanity’s demise in 2012, according to a German expert.

Police raid Heckler & Koch in bribery probe

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:38:00 +0100

Police have raided the headquarters of German gun maker Heckler & Koch as part of an investigation into illegal gun sales to the Mexican government.

Wulff condemns Mexican drug violence

Tue, 03 May 2011 10:28:00 +0200

President Christian Wulff has spoken out during a visit to Mexico against the appalling drug-related violence gripping the North American country.

Heckler & Koch probed over Mexico arms sales

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:47:00 +0100

Police have searched the premises of renowned German gun maker Heckler & Koch on suspicion that the firm was breaking a ban on weapons sales to parts of Mexico that are plagued by bloody drug gang warfare.

German woman stabbed to death at Caribbean resort

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:50:00 +0200

Mexican police have confirmed the discovery of the naked body of a German woman, bearing marks of a sharp weapon, in a house in the Caribbean resort of Playa del Carmen, justice officials said Tuesday.

Mexican foodies take Berlin's taste buds south of the border

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:26:00 +0100

Three friends - a Mexican, a Texan, and an Australian - have finally brought authentic Mexican food to Berlin. The Local sat down with them to find out how they did it.